Continuous fiber winding apparatus



Dec. 9, 1958 Filed Aug. 26, 1954 R. J. SHERWIN 2,863,612

CONTINUOUS FIBER WINDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z INVENTOR.

Qapfi 09am 2666a f dun/1e ATTORNEYS Dec. 9, 1958 R. J. SHERWIN 5CONTINUOUS FIBER WINDING APPARATUS 4 Filed Aug. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet2 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Unitecl States Patent 2,863,612 CONTINUOUS FIBER WINDINGAPPARATUS Ralph (l. Sherwin, Whitehouse, Ohio, assignor, by mesneassignments, to L-O-F Glass Fibers Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application August 26, 1954, Serial No. 452,263 10 Claims. (Cl.242-18) This invention relates to the production of continuousfilamentary materials. More particularly, the invention relates to anapparatus for continuously winding heatsoftenable fibers during thecontinuous manufacture thereof.

Continuous glass filaments adaptable to stranding are useful for avariety of purposes including the production of woven glass fabrics.These filaments are commonly produced by flowing streams of molten glassfrom a feeder bushing and pulling said streams to attenuate them.Several attenuated filaments are gathered into a strand which is woundonto a cylindrical tube rotated at high speed, the rotating tubeproviding the pulling force by which said streams are attenuated intofilament form.

Heretofore, it has been common practice to stop rtation of the tube whena desired amount ofstrand has been wound thereon and thus interrupt theattenuation process during an interval when an operator substitutes anempty tube for the filled one. It will be obvious that during the tubechange interval the attenuation process is interrupted and strandproduction is lost. Also critical factors such as feeder bushingtemperature, glass batch temperature, winding speed and the like aredisturbed, which factors require adjustment one to the other to assurethe production of filaments .of uniform diameter.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide -a machine for continuously winding glass fibers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine forcontinuously windingheat-softenable fibers which is adapted to wind saidfibers onto successive tubes without interrupting or varying the windingspeed of said fibers.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a machinefor continuously winding heatsoftenable fibers onto successive tubeswhereby controlled amounts of fiber are wound on said tubes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a continuous winding machine made inaccordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of themachine of Fig. 1 with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3- 3 of Fig. 2; V

Fig. 4 is a plan view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of Fig. 2 showing astrand tube in dotted outline, being applied to the idler arbor;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail end view of the lock joint formedlongitudinally in the. periphery of a strand tube; and

Fatented Dec. 9, 1958 Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electricalsystem of the machine of Fig. 1.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the continuous strand winding machine ofthe present invention includes a frame, designated generally by thereference numeral 10, fabricated of angle-iron stock support membersarranged to provide a pair of front vertically disposed posts 11, rearvertically disposed posts 12 and horizontally disposed pairs of sidemembers 13, 14 and 15 all joined together as by welding, bolting orriveting into the shape of a rectangular box. The top surface of thisbox is enclosed by a horizontally disposed panel 15 having a slotted,forward planular surface 17 and a rearward arch-shaped hood portion 18,the panel being fixedly carried by the said vertical disposed posts 11and 12. Side cover sheets or panels 19, 2t), 21 and 22 are fastened tothe frame members 11 and 12 as by screws 23, so as to form a housing 24and to enclose the frame 10 and protect the working parts of themachine, supported upon said frame.

The three principal components of the machine include a spindle andmandrel assembly 25, a compound power shaft 26 and a motor unit 27. Themotor 27 is adapted to be connected to the spindle and mandrel assembly25 and the compound power shaft 26 by means of V-belts 28 and 29,respectively, for driving said spindle and said power shaft.

The spindle and mandrel assembly 25 includes a rotatable spindle 30. Apair of inverted, generally U- shaped support brackets 31 and 32, Figs.2 and 3, are placed in transverse, bridging relation across the topsupport members 15 of frame 10 and are secured in position by bolts 33.Pillow bearings 34 and 35 are secured as by bolts 36 to the horizontallydisposed, central portions of the respective support brackets 31 and 32in coaxial alignment. The aforementioned spindle 30 is rotatablyjournaled in the bearings 34 and 35 in longitudinal relation withrespect to frame 10. Spindle 3% is fitted at its right hand end, Fig. 2,with a double V- pulley 37. The motor 27 is secured as by bots 38 to apair of angle-iron supports 39 and 40, supported transversely of frame10 between the lowermost pair of support members 13 and retained inposition as by welding. Motor 27 includes a rotatable shaft 41 which isprovided at its right hand end with a double V-pulley 42, and the pairof identical V-belts 28 are trained about the pulleys 37 and 42 toprovide a driving connection therebetween. The sheet metal cover or hood18 is secured over and around the right hand end of spindle 30, bearings34 and 35 and pulley 37.

On the left hand end of spindle 30 there is secured a mandrel 44,comprised of a cylindrical sleeve or hub 45, which is provided with abore 46 whereby said sleeve can be positioned upon spindle 30 with itsright hand end abutting a shoulder 47 formed on the spindle. The lefthand end of spindle 30 is adapted to receive a drive key 48 and is alsoprovided with an outer, threaded end 49 and a nut 50 and washer 51 areplaced thereon to secure mandrel 44 in position. The shell 52 of mandrel44 is supported in coaxial, surrounding relation with respect to sleeve45 by means of support ribs 53 extending between these two elements.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the medial portion of spindle 30, between themandrel 44 and bearing 34, supports an idler mandrel 55 in freelyrotatable relation. This idler mandrel 55 is comprised of a cylindricalshell 56 which is rotatably journaled upon spindle 3th by means of apair of anti-friction bearings 57, which are held in position upon thestepped portion 58 of spindle 30 between a shoulder 59 and aconventional locking ring 60. Mandrels 44 and 55 are adapted to befitted with tubes 61, such as illustrated in Figs. and 6, upon whichselected amounts of fiber are wound to provide a so-called package fordistribution in commercial channels. The tubes 61 are suitablyfabricated of a semi-rigid plastic material or the like, in cylindricalform. As shown in the end view of Fig. 6, tube 61 is provided with alongitudinal seam 62 having mating tongue and groove edges 63 and 64. itwill be readily understood from the foregoing and as illustrated in Fig.5 that tube 61 is simply spread open and snapped into position uponidler mandrel 55.

A tube feeder, shown at 65, is employed to transfer the tube 61 from theidler mandrel to Winding mandrel 4,4 in a manner to be more fullydescribed hereinafter. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 1, a traversinghead 66- of conventional configuration is employed to guide the strand67, Fig. 1, onto the tube 61 in a uniform manner. Tube feeder 65 andtraversing head 66 are each driven from and partially supported on thecompound power shaft 26 which is located centrally within the frame 10and longitudinally thereof.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, compound power shaft 26 is comprised ofthree aligned, distinct shaft units 68, 69 and 70. A series of sixchannel-iron supports 71, 72, 73, 74, and 76 are positioned transverselyof and upon horizontal frame members 14 and, are secured as by welding.Pillow bearings 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 and 82 are secured in alignedrelation upon the respective channel supports 71 to 76 inclusive bymeans of bolts 83 and shaft elements 68, 69 and 70 are journaled in saidbearings in aligned relation. Shaft 69 is the driving shaft with respectto shafts 68 and 70 and is fitted medially with a V-pulley 84. The lefthand end of motor shaft 27 is fitted with a V-pulley and the V-belt, 29is trained about said pulleys 84 and 85 to provide a driving relationtherebetween.

The ends of shaft 69 are operatively connectable to shafts 68 and 70 bymeans of magnetic clutch and brake devices 87 and 88 respectively. Themedial portion of shaft 68 is provided with a multiple thread 89. Theaforementioned traversing head 66 is vertically disposed to reciprocatein the slot 66 of panel 16 and therebeneath is provided with an annularbase portion 90 having a cylindrical bore 91 thatis adapted to slidablyinterfit with shaft 68 and by means of a pin 92, engaging the thread89is adapted to be reciprocally propelled in a to-and-fro manner whenshaft 68 is rotated for guiding the strand 67 upon the tube 61.

The medial portion of shaft 70 isprovided with a multiple thread 93 in amanner similar to shaft 68 and, as best shown in the plan view of Fig.4, the tube feeder 65 has a base 94 having a bore 95 equipped with. apin 96 adapted to engage the multiple thread 93 so that said feeder willbe propelled in a toan d-fro manner when shaft 70 is rotated. A pair ofbored brackets 97 and 9 8 are secured to channel support members 71 and76 respectively by means of bolts 99, and a guide shaft 100 is securedtherein in parallel relation to compound shaft 26. The base portion 94of tube feeder 65 (Fig. 4) is provided with a bore 101, parallel to bore95 whereby it is adapted to be movably supported upon shafts 100 and 70andvby means of the pin 96, engaging thread 93, is moved toand-fro byrotation of shaft 70. Construction of traversing head 66 is similar totube feeder 65 in the use of the base 90 riding upon shafts 68 and 100.

Timing and operation of traversing head 66' and tube.

feeder 65 are controlled by a timer-actuated electrical systemillustrated schematically in Fig. 7. A gear 102 is secured to the lefthand end of shaft 68. A timer mechanism 103 is secured to channelsupport 71, and is provided with a shaft 104, parallel to shaft 68, towhich is secured a gear 105 adapted to intcrmesh in driving relationwith the gear 102 of shaft 68. A conventionally actuated switch (notshown) is an integral component of timer 103 which completes a circuitfrom the usual sourqes of electrical energy.

Further components of the electrical system include a normally closedswitch 106 and a normally open switch 107. The switch 106 controls theenergization of the magnetic clutch and brake 87 while the switch 107similarly controls the energization of the magnetic clutch and brake 88.More particularly, the movable contact 108 of switch 106 is actuated bymeans of a pair of solenoids or coils 109 and 110 and, for this purpose,is medially and pivotally connected to a common armature 111. Themovable contact 112 of switch 107 is likewise actuated by a pair ofsolenoids 113 and 114 being connected to the common armature 115. Thesolenoids 109 and 113 are connected to the timer 103 by line 116, saidtimer being connected to one side of the electrical source by line 117.Line 118 from source line 117 extends to movable contact 108 of switch106 and thence to limit switches 119 and 120. Line 118 by line 121 alsoconnects to movable contact 112 of switch 107. During the normal windingsequence of operation, the switch 106 is closed to complete a circuitfrom one side of the electrical source by lines 117 and 118, movablecontact'108, fixed contact 122, line 123 to magnetic clutch 87 toenergize the same and thence by line 124 to the opposite source ofsupply 125. At the same time, movable contact 112 of switch 107 is disengaged from its associated fixed contact 1 26.

Operation of the electrical sysem and its control of the traversing head66 and tube feeder 65 is as follows:

With tubes 61 positioned respectively upon the medial portion A and aright hand end portion B of winding mandrel 44 anda third tube Cpositioned upon idler mandrel 55, a strand 67 is started by hand uponthe tube A. Motor 27 is then started and the winding operation isinitiated, with the clutch 87 activated, the shaft 68 is caused to turnconcomitantly with turning of tube A, by connection to the drive shaft69 and motor 27. Traversing head 66 is moved to-and-fro by multiplethread 89 of shaft 68 and strand 67 is guided into a uniform wind upontube A. This is the position of the electrical system 102 as shown inFig. 7. After a selected number of turns of shafts 68 and 104 throughgears 102 and 105, representing a desired amount of strand wound upontube A, the switch of timer 103 is momentarily closed and a circuittherethrough is completed by lines 116 and 117 from one side of theelectrical source to solenoids 109 and 113 and to the opposite sourceside 125 by line 1 2 7. Upon activation of the solenoid 109, thearmaturelll is moved inwardly thereof and operates to disengage contacts108 and 122 thereby de-energizing clutch 87. Disengagement of the shafts68 and 69 and the braking of shaft'68, thus halts lateral motion of thetraverser 66.

Simultaneously the clutch 88, upon engagement of contact 112 of switch107 with contact 126 to complete a circuit from lines 118 and 121, toline 128 and clutch 88, thence by lines 129 and 124 to the oppositesource 125, is energized to drive shaft 70 by the continuously drivenshaft 69. This causes the feeder 65 to advance to the left. from itsrest position of Fig. 2. Such movement of tube feeder 65 causes the tubeC, supported by idler mandrel 55, to be slidably moved from the idlermandrel toward winding mandrel 44. When the left hand end of the tube Cengages the right hand end of tube B, idler mandrel 55 through frictionengagement of tubes B and C is caused to rotate at the speed of windingmandrel 44. Further movement of tubefeeder 65 forces all three tubes A,B and C to the left until C occupies the positionof B, B, occupies theposition of A, and A is in position to be removed from theleft hand endof mandrel 44. Prior to removal from mandrel 44, a, suitable cuttingintrument such as a knife blade is inserted between tubes A and B tosever the single strand 67, fed. as a continuation between the twotubes. During tube movement, traversing head 66 is stationary and tube Bin being moved acts to provide a simulated traversing, uniform windthereacross.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 2, it will be seen that movement of tube feedercasting 54 from its right hand position causes switch 120, by spring130, to open upon disengagement with adjustment screw 131 carried by thefeeder base 94. At the limit of its leftward motion as determined by themultiple thread 93, as viewed in the above-mentioned figures, a secondadjustment screw 132 carried by base 94 closes limit switch 119 againstthe influence of spring 133. The switch 119, by supply line 113,completes a line 134 to solenoid 110 of switch 106 and thence by line135 to line 124 and the opposite side 125 of the electrical source.Consequently, the movable contact 108 is moved into re-engagement withfixed contact 122 to re-establish the circuit of the magnetic clutch 87between lines 118 and 123. The traverser 66 thus resumes its reciprocalmotion while the feeder 65 is caused to travel rearwardly toward itsrest position of Fig. 2.

Switch 119, by lines 134 and 136, also causes a timer relay 137 tofunction and complete a line 138 between switch 120 (presently open) andsolenoid 114 of switch 107. Upon completion of movement of the feeder 65rearwardly, or to the right, the screw 131 on feeder base 94 closesswitch 120 to complete a temporary circuit from line 118, line 138, andtimer relay 137 to solenoid 114 and by line 139 to lines 135 and 124.This causes armature 115 to move contact 112 out of engagement withfixed contact 126 thereby de-energizing clutch 88 and halting shaft 70and feeder 65. Since the switch 12% is normally maintained closed byscrew 131 during the rest interval of the feeder 65, setting of timerrelay 137 is preferably adjusted to substantially instantaneously closeand then open line 138 between said switch and solenoid 114. The circuitis thus set for recycle. For continued operation of the machine, emptytubes 61 are snapped over idler mandrel 44 in the manner previouslydescribed.

It. will thus be obvious that the present invention pro vides forcontinuous winding and tube change synchronized therewith, resulting inimproved quality of strand and economy of operation and increasedproduction from a single glass melting furnace.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, but thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A continuous winding machine including a frame, a rotatable shaftjournaled on said frame, a first mandrel secured to said shaft forpowered rotation therewith, and a second mandrel freely rotatablyjournaled on said shaft, said first and second mandrels being positionedin adjacent end-to-end relation, power means for rotating said shaft, atube adapted to be placed upon said second mandrel, and means forslidably moving said tube from said second mandrel onto said firstmandrel.

2. A continuous winding machine including a frame, a winding mandrelrotatably journaled on said frame and power means for driving saidmandrel, an idler mandrel journaled on said frame for free rotation,said mandrels being axially aligned and positioned in adjacent endto-endrelation, a pair of tubes adapted to be positioned in abuttingend-to-end relation on said winding mandrel and a third tube adapted tobe positioned upon said idler mandrel, and means for axially shiftingsaid third tube onto said winding mandrel while said pair of tubes isaxially shifted.

3. A continuous winding machine including a frame, a winding mandreljournal-ed on said frame for powered rotation and means for driving saidmandrel, an idler mandrel journaled on said frame for free rotation,said mandrels being axially aligned and positioned in adjacentend-to-end relation, a pair of tubes adapted to be positioned inabutting end-to-end relation on said Wind- 5 ing mandrel and a thirdtube adapted to be positioned upon said idler mandrel, and means foraxially shifting said third tube onto said winding mandrel while saidpair of tubes is axially shifted.

4. A continuous strand winding apparatus including a frame, a spindlerotatably journaled on said frame, power means operatively connected tosaid spindle and adapted to rotate the same, a first mandrel journaledon said spindle for free rotation, and a second mandrel carried by saidspindle for rotation therewith, said mandrels having peripheral surfacesof substantially identical dimensions, a tube having an interiorconfiguration adapted to snugly engage the exterior of said mandrels,and means for moving said tube from said first mandrel to said secondmandrel, whereby said first mandrel is caused to rotate at a speed equalto the speed of said spindle upon initial contact of said tube with saidsecond mandrel, and subsequent movement of said tube is effected whilesaid mandrels are both rotating.

5. A continuous Winding machine including a frame, an idler mandreljournaled on said frame for free rotation, and a winding mandreljournaled on said frame for powered rotation, said mandrels having equaloutside diameters, said mandrels being axially aligned and posi tionedin adjacent end-to-end relation, power means operatively connected tosaid winding mandrel and adapted to rotate the same, a tube adapted tobe placed upon the idling mandrel in frictional contact therewith, andmeans for moving said tube from said idling mandrel onto said windingmandrel, whereby said idling mandrel is caused to rotate at a speedequal to the speed of said winding mandrel upon initial contact of saidtube with said winding mandrel, and subsequent movement of said tube iseffected while said mandrels are rotating.

6. A continuous winding machine including a frame, an idling mandreljournaled upon said frame for free rotation and a winding mandrelrotatably journaled on said frame for powered rotation, said mandrelsbeing of equivalent outside diameter, said mandrels being axiallyaligned and positioned in adjacent end-to-end relation, a motoroperatively connected to said winding mandrel and adapted to rotate thesame, a split tube adapted to 'be positioned upon the idling mandrel infrictional contact therewith, a tube feeder movably supported on saidframe and adapted to move said tube from said idling mandrel to saidwinding mandrel, whereby upon initial engagement of said tube with saidwinding mandrel, rotation is imparted to said idling mandrel andsubsequent movement of said tube is effected while said mandrels arerotating.

7. Apparatus for continuously winding heat-softenable fibers comprisinga frame, a spindle rotatably journaled on said frame and carrying a tubein frictional engagement upon which the fibers are adapted to be wound,power means operatively connected to said spindle for applying arotative force thereto, an idler mandrel freely rotatably journaled onsaid frame in coaxial, adjacent end-to-end relation with said windingmandrel, said idler mandrel also being adapted to frictionally support atube, a traversing head and a tube feeder movably mounted on said frame,said traversing head and said tube feeder being operably connectable tosaid power means for movement thereby, said traversing head beingnormally movable in synchronization with rotation of said windingmandrel and said tube feeder being normally at rest, and control meansfor interrupting movement of said traversing head concurrent withinitiation of movement of said tube feeder followed by recommencement ofmovement of said traversing head and subsequent neutralization of saidtube feeder, whereby upon initial frictional engagement of said tubecarried by said idler mandrel with said winding mandrel, rotation equalto the speed of said winding mandrel is imparted to said idler mandreland subsequent movement of said tube is effected while said mandrels arerotating.

8. Apparatus for continuously winding fibers comprising a frame, anidler mandrel freely rotatably journaled on said frame, a windingmandrel rotatably journaled on said frame, power means operativelyconnected tosaid winding mandrel for applying a rotative force thereto,said idler mandrel and said winding mandrel being coaxially aligned, afirst tube adapted to fit upon said winding mandrel and a second tubeadapted to fit upon said idler mandrel, a traversing head and a, tubefeeder supported upon said frame for to-and-fro movement parallel to theaxis of said mandrels, said traversing head being normally movable insynchronization with the rotation of said winding mandrel and said tubefeeder being normally at rest, a first clutch for operatively connectingsaid traversing head to said power means and a second clutch foroperatively connecting said tube feeder to said power means, and meansfor controlling said clutches comprising a timer electrically connectedto each of said clutches, first and second switches engageable by saidtube feeder, whereby operation of said timer is effective to disconnectsaid first clutch and stop said traversing head, and said timerconcomitantly activates said second clutch to move said tube feeder andpush said second tube into the position occupied by said first tube onsaid winding mandrel, initial movement of said tube feeder beingeffective to open said first switch and subsequent movement of saidfeeder arm being effective to close said second switch to reactivatesaid first clutch and resume movement of said traversing head and stillsubsequent movement of said tube feeder being effective to close saidfirst switch and reset said electrical system for recycle.

9. The process of winding a continuous strand comprising, positioning anempty tube in frictional engagement upon a freely rotatable mandrel,sliding said tube from said freely rotatable mandrel into frictionalengagement upon a driven mandrel coaxially aligned with the freelyrotatable mandrel, positioning a second empty tube upon said freelyrotatable mandrel and transferring said second tube from said freelyrotatable mandrel onto the driven mandrel to concomitantly move thefirst tube into awinding position on the driven mandrel, winding astrandupon said first tube, positioning a third empty tube upon saidfreely rotatable mandrel and transferring said third tube from saidfreely rotatable mandrel onto the driven mandrel whereby movement of thetubes is effective to transfer the strand from the first tube to thesecond tube while both tubes are positioned in abutting end-to-endrelation upon the driven mandrel, and repeating the cycle.

10. The process of winding continuous glass fibers comprising,positioning a freely rotatable mandrel and a driven mandrel inend-to-end coaxial relation, positioning an empty tube in frictionalengagement on the first mandrel and slidably transferring said tube fromsaid first mandrel into frictional engagement with the driven mandreland repeating. this operation whereby said first tube is transferred toa winding position upon the driven mandrel, winding a glass strand uponthe first tube in said winding position on the driven mandrel, anddisplacing said tube from the driven mandrel by repeating the step ofpositioning an empty tube upon the freely rotatable mandrel and slidablytransferring the empty tube from said mandrel onto said second mandrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS892,783 Walder July 7, 1908 1,473,450 Thornton Nov. 6, 1923 1,652,992Krantz Dec' 13, 1927 2,119,847 Grube June 7, 1938 2,149,851 MacLeod Mar.7, 1939 2,157,811 Beach May 9, 1939 2,467,555 Hornbostel et al. Apr. 19,1949 2,622,810 Stream Dec. 23, 1952

